Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

What does the Law of Effect state about responses followed by a satisfying reward?

1. They are likely to be conditioned.

2. They are likely to be repeated.

3. They should not be reinforced.

4. They become extinguished over time.

The correct answer is: They are likely to be repeated.

The Law of Effect, formulated by Edward Thorndike, posits that responses to stimuli that are followed by a satisfying reward are likely to be repeated in the future. This principle lays the foundation for our understanding of operant conditioning, suggesting that behaviors that yield positive outcomes tend to be reinforced through repetition. When an action leads to a favorable consequence, the likelihood of that action being performed again increases, making option B the correct answer. In contrast, options that do not align with the Law of Effect can be understood as misconceptions. Conditioning refers to the process of learning that involves associating a response with a particular stimulus, but it does not specifically address the likelihood of repetition based on satisfaction. The notion of reinforcement is related to the idea of conditioning but does not capture the essence of the Law itself, which emphasizes the outcome (the satisfying reward) leading to the repetition of the behavior. Lastly, the idea that responses should not be reinforced or become extinguished over time contradicts the Law of Effect, which asserts the importance of positive reinforcement in encouraging behavior. Thus, behaviors followed by a satisfying reward are indeed likely to be repeated, effectively demonstrating the principle at play.